Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.Date: Saturday, November 23, 2013Location: Dan Ruskiewicz Field (Carrollwood Village Soccer Fields)Cost: Admission is FREE; Food/drinks and other items will be available for purchase; Parking is available at the Carrollwood Cultural Center $2/vehicleInfo: (813) 842-7066; Carrollwood Village Website(Click on the VillageFest ad in the right-hand sidebar)

What’s Doing?
In it’s eleventh year, this annual event features live entertainment, food by local restaurants, and lots of booths for holiday gift shopping, as well a fun activities for the kids, including:
— Inflatables
— Crafts
— Pony rides
— Pictures with Santa Claus

What’s Doing?
Children age 6 months-19 years can get FREE immunizations, school physicals, dental exams, vision screenings, hearing exams, scoliosis exams and more. (NOTE: Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and you will need to bring their shot records.)

Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.Date: Saturday, April 6, 2013Location: University of TampaCost: The event is FREE, and FREE event parking will be available on campus (look for signs)Info: E-mail Lindsey at lpavlick@spartans.ut.edu for more information; P.E.A.C.E. Volunteer Center on Facebook

What’s Doing?
The P.E.A.C.E. Volunteer Center at the University of Tampa will host its first-ever “Healthy! That’s Me!” Kids Health Day for Bay area children and their families. Head over to the UT campus for a FREE day of health, fitness and fun as University of Tampa students provide games and activities to educate children on the importance of staying fit.

Time: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.Date: Saturday, March 9, 2013Location: IKEA TampaCost: FREE to attend (Register on the day of the event between 9-11:30 a.m. in the store lobby)Info: RSVP on the IKEA Tampa Facebook Event Page

What’s Doing?
BYOF (Bring Your Own Friends) Day is happening once again at IKEA Tampa. Here’s how it works: Bring your friends for an in-store shopping event that offers special perks, activities and giveaways while you shop. Everyone is invited! Here are some highlights:
— IKEA will be giving away five $1,000 in IKEA gift cards throughout the day (Enter in the store Lobby when you register the morning of the event)
— FREE Chair Massages
— FREE decorating advice
— FREE food samples throughout the day
— FREE Life Improvement seminar
— Eat in the Restaurant and deduct your Restaurant total from any home furnishings purchase over $100
— Purchase an IKEA throw pillow and fabric and IKEA will sew your pillow cover for FREE (maximum of 2/customer; 16” x 24” or 20” x 20”)
— Twitter Picture Hunt Sweepstakes: Enter to win additional prizes on BYOF Day (Follow IKEA_Tampa on Twitter on March 9 for details.)

RSVP on the 2013 BYOF Day at IKEA Tampa Facebook Event and get coupons you can print for:(To get the coupons: RSVP to the event, then click on “see more” in the event description. In the copy that appears, you will find a link to open and print the coupons.)
— FREE IKEA Blue Bag (must present coupon)
— FREE small breakfast plate before 11am (must present coupon)

Even Better! For every RSVP (up to 25,000), IKEA Tampa will donate $1 to Save the Children’s Early Steps for School Success.

What’s Doing?
Check out the annual car show at 10 a.m. and enjoy the great outdoors. Attendees can purchase a chili bowl for $5 to taste the various chili recipes in the chili Cook-off contest beginning, which begins at noon.

Pumpkin Patch Pageant
If you would like your Little Pumpkin age 3 months to 8 years old, contact Jennifer Cofini at jcofini@fordofwesleychapel.com for details. Registration will be from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 14, with a Contestant Parade following at 11:45 a.m. Little Miss Pumpkin Patch, Little Mr. Pumpkin Patch and their Pumpkin Court will be crowned, and up to $100 in cash — plus prizes — will be awarded. There is a $25 entry fee. Age categories include:
— 3 months-1 year
— 2-4 years
— 5-8 years

What’s Doing?
You’re invited to the Waterset by Newsland Communities Grand Opening Festival, and they have loads of fun planned for you! Not only will you get a chance to experience this new home community in Apollo Beach, you and your family will enjoy live music, games and activities for all ages, gourmet food truck tastings, and more. Tour the 9 new model homes (you may be surprised to know that this would be my 4-year-old’s favorite part of this event!), see The Landing Club & Café, and most of all … have fun!

At The Landing:
— Enjoy signature tastings in the Café
— Swim (children and adults!)
— Play water games
— Tour the Fitness Center
— Explore the Greenway

In the Kids Zone:
— Join in YMCA-led games and activities
— Participate in obstacle course races and Hamster Ball races

On the Trail:
— Check out the trail head
— Hike the trails
— Let the kids loose on the playgrounds
— Preview the dog park
— Get active on the fitness trail

What’s Doing?
Meet the doctors at Family Medical Care of Riverview‘s newest location (opened March 2012) during this open house event. Enjoy complimentary refreshments and take a tour of the office. There will be FREE growth charts and face painting for the kids.

There is no minimum amount that you must raise in order to participate in the walk (beyond the walk fee). However, walkers who raise $100 or more will receive an official CureSearch Walk T-shirt.

Time: Registration opens and pre-walk activities begin at 9 a.m.; The Radio Disney Road Crew will be on-site from 9-11:30 a.m.; Opening Ceremony and Walk: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.Date: Saturday, September 29, 2012Location: South Straub ParkCost: Walk Fee: $10/adult (Age 16+), FREE/child (Age 15 and younger); Donations support CureSearch for Children’s Cancer; Registration is required! Everyone participating in the walk needs to register and sign a liability waiver. You can register online prior to the walk, or visit the Registration Table on walk day to register and sign the liability waiver. Although there is no walk fee for children, they do need to be registered by their parents online or at the walk.Info: (727) 577-4500 ext. 232; 2012 Tampa Bay Area CureSearch Walk for Children’s Cancer Website

What’s Doing?
Join Radio Disney AM1380 Road Crew to celebrate and honor children from the Tampa Bay Area who have been affected by cancer. All festivities will take place in South Straub Park with two walk loops around South and North Straub Park. In addition, the day will include music, food and fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Time: Registration: 6:30 a.m.; Run Start: 8 a.m.; Walk Start: 8:45 a.m.; Event ends around 12 p.m.Date: Saturday, September 15, 2012Location: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park – Downtown TampaCost: $25 ($30 day of event)/adult, $15 ($20 day of event)/child 6-12; FREE for children age 5 and younger; Parking: Main parking can be found at the Poe Parking Garage. Various other lots and street parking locations will be available close by downtown.Info:Chick-fil-A Fall Stampede Website

What’s Doing?
Grab your running shoes and join Chick-fil-A’s Fall Stampede, a 5K Run or Family Fun Walk benefiting the Children’s Cancer Center. Register today and enjoy a fun, family day filled with:
— 5k run/1-mile walk
— Music by J.T. Curtis and the Silver Eagle Band
— Food
— Activities for the whole family
— Mingle with the Chick-fil-A Cows: A full ‘herd’ of the famous Chick-fil-A cows will also be at the event, and many will be racing and walking with you!
— 20-Yard-Dash Mascot Race: See your favorite sports team and organization mascots in a mad dash against each other to see who’s the fastest mascot!

Fundraising
Create a Fund-raising “INDIVIDUAL” or “TEAM” page to solicit donations above and beyond your registration fee to support the children at Children’s Cancer Center. (NOTE: fundraising does not cover your registration fee.) It’s fun, it’s easy and it truly costs you nothing but one minute of your time. Go ahead and try it! !

Even Better! The team generating the greatest donation amount will win the Team Fundraiser Award and a prize for every team member (up to 10 members). The individual generating the greatest donation amount will win the Individual Fundraiser Award and prize.

— Step One: Visit the Fall Stampede main fund raising page— Step Two: Click the big black box that says “Fund raise for this event.”— Step Three: Select if you want to create an “INDIVIDUAL” page, create a “TEAM” page, or “JOIN” a team page that’s already been created.— Step Four: Share your new URL (that’s a fancy term for a web address) across your e-mail list, Facebook, Twitter, Google + and more, leveraging the power of your personal network to generate donations for the families served by the Children’s Cancer Center.

Pre-Race Packet Pick-Up
There will be pre-race packet pick-up available at these Chick-fil-A locations the evening before the run from 6-8 p.m.:

Disclaimer: The information presented here is accurate to the best of my knowledge when I publish each event. However, event hosts can reschedule, change or cancel any event at any time. Consequently, I highly recommend both calling ahead and having a back-up plan.